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Webers not hurting

The economy might be receding, but the lineups at a local burger joint are not.

It could be reputation or location -- or both -- that continue to coax customers to Webers, despite what are trying times for many.

The Highway 11 business isn't just holding its own; it's doing better than it has in a long time.

"We've had one of our better starts in 10 years," said general manager Ken Robbins. "We're quite lucky we have a loyal customer base."

Webers opened this year during the March break, and "it's been busy all the way through," Robbins said.

"We're seeing lots of Americans, so maybe they're staying closer to home and driving," he said, adding many people are also booking daytrips or weekend getaways.

Weekends are busiest, but the weekdays provide no respite. Yesterday, as the lineup stretched well out into the gravel parking lot, he expected to sell 2,000 burgers. A busy Friday typically yields about 8,000.

A number of factors could be contributing to its ccess, Robbins said, including keeping Webers price increases to a minimum.

The renovated railway car that is now a washroom has also gone over well with customers, he said.

Then, there's the obvious attraction: the bridge.

The bright-coloured walking bridge was built to allow customers a safer way across the highway, as people used to dart across, from the south to north lanes, to get something to eat.